Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Additional Forage Question

I'd wait on the Gizzards a bit, but then this is from a guy that is in Northern Indiana and not seeing many LMB over 5# in the BOW's here. Gizzards seem to take over ponds and lakes easily up here.

All of the secondary forage fish that were mentioned are great, but you have to think about managing reproductive habitat for them and habitat for their fry to grow larger. You will want forage fish that are 1/4 the length of the bass or a bit bigger so they don't have to expend a lot of energy for every meal they get. Also look at refreshing the cover that was in the pond 20 years ago for the bass if it was cover that was made from things that would degrade in a pond. Bass need places to ambush their prey from, and if those are few and far between the bass will be expending a lot of calories swimming around looking for food.

Also, before fertilizing too much more, take a reading of your alkalinity. If it's below 40, add lime and that will make the fertilizer that is already in the pond work a lot better.